Originally Posted By seafairy Planning on spending one day in epcot,which resteraunt is better? I have heard there is a resteraunt where they put people in the corner and do the airplane with your spoon, can;t remember the name of it. Thanks, Seafairy
Originally Posted By avromark Chef's de France imho is better, Chinese is just to common, and isn't as good as the Chinese food (authentic and North American) you can get in your hometown. The restaurant you're thinking of is in MGM Studio's it's called Primetime Cafe, although this experience varies widely with your server, and imho the service isn't what it used to be. Your mileage and others who visit more often may have better input though.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Now of the two, I think 9 Dragons is better - but then again we go to the real France all the time and Chefs de France is nothing like the real thing. But for me Le Cellier is the best restaurant in Epcot, followed by Mitsukoshi Teppanyaki, Nine Dragons, San Angel Inn, Biergarten, Alfredo's, and Restaurant Marekech in that order. For me France and England are well down towards the bottom - but we live here. We were really looking forward to the 50's Prime Time in the Studios, but our experience was a real disappointment. Alot depends on the server, for us it was like having an average server in a Denny's. I have found the Hollywood Brown Derby and the Sci Fi Dine In to be far better.
Originally Posted By avromark ^^^ See we don't have any French restaurants (that I can afford) locally, so... My city has a plethora or North American, Greek, Middle Eastern, Italian and Chinese though.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Well I found my dishes at Nine Dragons on par with places I have eaten in Hong Kong, San Francisco, London and Amsterdam (three v large Chinatowns). However, we found Chefs subpar, especially now they've started doing burgers.
Originally Posted By avromark ^^^ I last ate there in the late 90's <- Part UK / Part Asian, I can cook Asian dishes myself so to me it's just normal.
Originally Posted By avromark UK heritage at MGM everyone but my dad prefers Sci-Fi, my dad likes Primetime.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Understandable Avromark. Similarly being American Sicilian - Alfredo's is OK. After all, I can cook the menu myself. Ultimately it's down to the OP's tastes. I don't think you can really go wrong with any of the World Showcase table service.
Originally Posted By seafairy Thank-you everyone! I think we'll go with Chef le France. I think we"ll do Mama Melrose for MGM. The Fantasmic package sounds good. Seafairy
Originally Posted By disney411 The last i ate at Le chefs de France the waiter seemed to be vary pushy with us.The food was Ok, make sure to visit the pastry shop there pastrys are so good.
Originally Posted By Labuda "However, we found Chefs subpar, especially now they've started doing burgers." The hamburger has been off the menu at least since sometime in CDecember - my guess is it went away shortly after the free dining promo ended. Anyhow, of the two, I'd choose Chefs de France over Nine Dragons, but ultimately, I'd choose either Alfredo's or Le Cellier as my favorite Epcot sit-down.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip We really enjoy Nine Dragons. The food is very well prepared, the setting is lovely and the tables don't seem as crammed together as at some of the other Epcot restaurants. Nine Dragons used to be criticized for being over-priced, but over the years I believe that has changed. Nine Dragons has not gotten any cheaper, but most of the other Showcase restaurants have become considerably more expensive so Nine Dragons no longer seems out of line.
Originally Posted By Spirit of 74 ^^I agree with Trippy (did Dumbo just fly out ...?). Nine Dragons, while lousy back in the late 80s and early 90s, has gotten much, much better. I enjoy it a lot. Beautiful dining room too. And not expensive. Chefs de France was always a must-do for me. But after the Dining Plan fiasco last year when they adding a $23 hamburger and took away the $25 filet ... only to bring it back a few months after the free dining ended for $3.50 more ... I've just decided to boycott the place. It's obvious that money is all that matters there not fine French cuisine.
Originally Posted By Mr X Spirit, I hate to sound cynical, but "fine French cuisine", or "fine cuisine" in general is not something you find in an amusement park. Dave, funny you mention not liking Chefs because you eat in Paris all the time...for the same reason I found the Teppanyaki place to be quite sub-par (on your list as "second favorite, I see). But strangely you've eaten in Hong Kong but still like Nine Dragons...I'd say that's a pretty good vote of confidence. I've never eaten there, since all the guidebooks seemed to all read "avoid this place!". Regarding World Showcase, actually I believe the only places I've never dined in are Morocco, France, and China. In future world I've never eaten at the Living Seas (not a big seafood fan) but LOVE the Land dining room.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<I've never dined in are Morocco, France, and China.>> You must try Morocco... I think it is some of the finest dining in the Showcase.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Ya, I think you are right about the familiarity factor. At Nine Dragons the Dim Sum was like San Francisco, and the Kung Bao Chicken was like Hong Kong. My MIL's Sweet and Sour was very good, and Sarah's Honey Sesame Chicken was excellent. The service was top notch too, probably the best service we had on our last trip. Bearing in mind we ate at: Marrekech, Teppanyaki Mitsukoshi, Le Cellier, Nine Dragons, Biergarten, 50's Prime Time, Boma, Whispering Canyon, and Liberty Tree Tavern. I think some of the problem people also have with Nine Dragons is that the food is pretty authentic and not Americanised.
Originally Posted By avromark ^^^ I eat in Chinatowns fairly regularly, I was told some restaurants have signs in the Cantonese alphabet for example that would state that the food was americanized there. It's not authentic if there's no chicken feet or smelts available I'm guessing if you're the only non-Chinese there, chances are it's authentic food.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Yep - I see where you are coming from. But there is a difference between a hot dog stand selling chilli cheese dogs and a haut cuisine restaurant in Napa - both are authentic american food. Same is true of different chinese food. I have been the only white guy in restaurants in Hong Kong, San Francisco, and Europe, and this stuff is pretty authentic in my opinion. No eel soup or chicken feet stir fry, but authentic none the less.
Originally Posted By Labuda "You must try Morocco... I think it is some of the finest dining in the Showcase." So, Trippy... I'll take your input quite seriously here.... should I ditch Kona Café for The Grand Floridian Grill or for Restaurant Marrakesh?
